Date of birth | 31 March 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | Windhoek, Namibia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 96 kg (212 lb; 15 st 2 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Paarl Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | University of Cape Town | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Le Roux Malan (born 31 March 1999) is a Namibian rugby union player, [1] who currently plays as a centre for the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby (MLR) [2] and for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. [3] He represents Namibia internationally.
Born in Windhoek, Namibia, Malan attended Paarl Boys' High School [4] and then attended the University of Cape Town where he represented the Ikey Tigers side in the Varsity Cup. [5] [6]
Malan represented the Sharks XV in the 2019 Rugby Challenge. [7] He signed for the New England Free Jacks ahead of the 2022 Major League Rugby season. [8] [9]
In late 2022, he was selected for the Namibia national side, [10] and made his debut against Spain. [11] He would also appear in two matches for the squad during the 2023 World Cup. During the event Malan dislocated his ankle, along with fracturing his fibula, and tearing his semitendinosus in the first half of Namibia’s loss to the All Blacks. He would return to Boston to work the Free jacks head medical coach. Ultimately making a miraculous recovery and rejoining the Free Jacks 6 games into the 2024 MLR season. [12]
In 2023, Malan scored the game-winning try in the 76th minute of the MLR Championship Final, giving the New England Free Jacks a 25–24 win over San Diego Legion and the club's first MLR title. [13] At the end of the year he would be named to the all MLR first team scoring 9 tries in 11 appearances. After coming back from an injury He suffered during the World Cup. He rejoined the free jacks in game 6 of the 2024 MLR season and would help the free jacks win a second MLR, again scoring a try in the Championship Final. [14]
On 29 July 2024, Malan was named in the Hawke's Bay squad for the 2024 Bunnings NPC season. [3] He made his debut for the province on 28 August 2024 against Canterbury. [15]
He returned to the free jacks making 17 appearances in 2025 and winning a 3rd straight MLR championship.
Malans Parents Liesl and Van Reenen, along with siblings Stef, Mila and Hannah are all very supportive of his career. Staying up until the early hours of the morning watching his games from South Africa. Malan also enjoys exploring the city and thrift shopping. [16]